Axis History Forum

This is an apolitical forum for discussions on the Axis nations and related topics hosted by the Axis History Factbook in cooperation with Christian Ankerstjerne’s Panzerworld and Christoph Awender's WW2 day by day.
Founded in 1999.

SS-Standartenführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle - DKiG on 9 October 1944 as SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve and Commander of the 5th SS-Volunteer Assault Brigade “Wallonien.” Degrelle also received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves (unnumbered—eighth and last non-German recipient).

Croatia

Leutnant Cvitan Galic – DkiG on 30 August 1943 as a fighter pilot in 15 (Croat)/JG52.

Hauptmann Mato Dukovac - According to Scheibert, he received his DKiG on 1 October 1944 as a Staffelkapitän in a Fallschirmjägerregiment! Obiviously a mistake on both date and unit as Dukovac was the Staffelkapitän of 15 (Croat)/JG 52. It appears his DKiG was awarded in the February-March 1944 timeframe. He ultimately scored 40 (some sources say 34) aerial victories, but deserted on 20 September 1944 when he and a fellow pilot flew to the Soviet side of the lines. There is a photograph of Dukovac displaying his DKiG in the August 2000 issue of “Military History” magazine – one of the few photos I’ve seen of a non-German wearing the DKiG.

Slovakia

Leutnant Jan Reznak – DkiG on 27 September 1943 as a Feldwebel and fighter pilot in 13 (Slovak)/JG52.

Sweden?

On page 372 of the addendum of “Foreign Legions of the Third Reich, Volume 4” by David Littlejohn, there is a note that Swedish SS-Oberscharführer Sven-Erik Olsson of the “Frundsberg” Division was awarded the DKiG. He is not listed in Scheibert however. Does anyone have anything on this Swedish volunteer?

I seem to recall that 2nd Lieutenant Dezsö Szentgyörgyi, the top Hungarian fighter ace of WWII, also received the DKiG. He is not listed in Scheibert and I don’t remember where I saw that reference. Presumably the DKiG would have been awarded later in the war when he was with the Hungarian 101st Fighter Regiment (the “Pumas”).

Fredrik Jensen, the only Norwegian to ever get the German Cross in Gold, commanded ”Germania” in periods. He commanded a platoon in 7. Kompanie, Reg ”Germania”, and later the whole company.
Jensen actually began his service with SS-Reg. ”Der Führer”, until he was wounded near Moscow. He then attended the 8. Kriegsjunker Lehrgang at Bad Tölz (along with Emil Bruun-Evers, Martin Skefstad, Knut Rossnäss and possibly other Norwegians.)

SS-Oscha. Sven-Erik Olsson served as radiooperator for the divisional commander of 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg", SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Harmel. The proposal document for Olssons DKiG is missing by the OKW listnings but his award has been confirmed by Harmel personally as it was Harmel who proposed Olsson for the DKiG.
Olsson died on March 7, 1985 in Arosa, Switzerland.

Olsson was the only Swede who won the DKiG, in fact, only Olsson and SS-Hstuf. Hans-Gösta Pehrsson were the high decorated Swedes who served in the Waffen-SS. Pehrsson won the Ehrenblattspange des Deutschen Heeres on December 25, 1944. Veterans I've spoken to have told that it was just a matter of time before Pehrsson would be proposed for the Knight's Cross. However, this are just rumours and there exist no documents or papers that can verify this story as far as I know.

Dezs&#337; Szentgyörgyi didn't get this medal. One other Hungarian pilot got this (Cpt. Gy&#337;z&#337; Lévay).One Hungarian fighter pilot (2nd Lt Miklós Kenyeres) was petitoned(probably this is not a good word:) to the Ritterkreuz, but he was taken POW two days later,and never got the RK.

Thank you for the clarification on the DKiG to Captain Gyözö Lévay rather than Ensign Dezsö Szentgyörgyi. Do you have any information on Lévay: what units, what aircraft flown, any victories, when was he awarded the DKiG, what Hungarian orders & decorations did he receive, etc.? Thanks!

Cpt. Gyözö Lévay was the commander of the Hungarian 102nd "Puli" Ground Attack (Assault) Group (equipped with Fw 190F-8 planes).
He flew more than 200 sorties with Ju 87D-3 and D-5 variants in 1943 and 1944, and with Fw 190F-8 in 1944 and 1945. He had one confirmed air victory too (with Fw 190).